Ex. Experiential Practice: Government Agencies

What is government lawyering? What are a government attorney’s day to day activities and tasks? Who is the client? Whether that is a state attorney general’s office, a local government agency, or the U.S. Department of Justice, an agency lawyer may find themselves advising legislators and executives (such as the governor, mayor or President), drafting or commenting on statutes and regulations, counseling agencies and executive branch officials, interpreting and implementing policies, issuing administrative opinions (such as Dear Colleague Letters), defending government programs, conducting investigations, and prosecuting entities and/or individuals on behalf of government interests. This work is guided by ethical considerations, professional codes of conduct, and regulations or policies and taken on behalf of the citizenry, institutions of government, and their leadership. In this seminar, we will examine the decision-making processes of government lawyers across diverse practice settings, political orientations, jurisdictions, and substantive areas of law.